Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The facts have changed so much since this documentary was made...but the general premise remains the same. It may be only a matter of time (now) before one of those U.S. teams fold...

I just worry about that Pesky Team USA bringing too much attention to the game in the States at this particular point in time...It's a REALLY good time to win Gold at the Winter Olympics for Canada...Let's go 'underdogs!' It was only a preliminary-round game and Team Canada did outshoot Team USA 45-23...it's not like the stats aren't there. So pick yourselves up and gain some confidence back with a decisive win over the Germans. Germany, by the way, has yet to win even a game in these Olympics and was shut out by both Sweden and Finland...so...

Ya think someone is dangling a Salisbury Nip over his head?Insert the John K. Samson line here for the easy assist.

Unlike the Jets, The Guess Who were Number 1 in 'the BIG league'. Granted: Maybe they weren't the 'coolest' band of all time: I always imagine Randy Bachman eating Kubasa and cheese cubes for some reason - a tasty idea...but not quite the coolest visual that I can think of. Plus - and don't get me started - wasn't Randy a converted Mormon? So now, on top of this Ukrainian 'feast,' my mind's eye is now forced to gawk at Glenn Beck trayin'-up with the boys over at the Paddlewheel...with that peppy staff lurking in the background! I get religion (a bit more) when you are born into it, but converting AND staying cool??!

So uh...yeah, 'cool' is out. For all that I know, Mormonism could very well be 'THE WAY'...but don't tell me that it's COOL!

To try end this HUGE digression (sorry), I think that maybe Samson's character was wrong on both fronts: The Jets were Number 1 in the WHA (if you count this as a BIG league - yeah, you probably should)...and while the Guess Who might've been a little too heavy into the nips and sausages for this fan's liking (not really - I'm equally guilty), I just don't think it's accurate to say that they sucked.

TWJ

PS. For the non-locals, a review at TRIPADVISOR.COM described the Paddlewheel as featuring "Bland food, bland surroundings and a demoralized staff"...so um, book ahead!

Another review gave the restaurant 3 stars and then went on to mention that he/she hadn't been there in 35 years...for 2 stars, this person holds out for 50, or what?!

It looks like it was still open as of '08? I don't really know, to be honest.

Bands like the Guess Who played gigs and hung out there in the 60's - it was truly a big part of the first music scene in all of North America to embrace the British Invasion Rock/Pop music.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

This song is by Winnipeg Locals Propagandhi.They are getting down "down under" in this footage.

All that I know about all of the parties mentioned here, is that we all want the Jets back.

Anything else is for the band and Coach's Corner to resolve. I'd like to see that debate!

Check out the nice Jets-coloured light show...

Dear Coach's Corner lyrics:

"Dear Ron MacLean. Dear Coach's Corner.I'm writing in order for someone to explainto my niece the distinction betweenthese mandatory pre-game group rites of submissionand the rallies at Nuremberg.Specifically the function the ritual servesin conjunction with what everybody knows is,in the end, a kid's game.I'm just appealing to your sense of fair playwhen I say she's puzzled by this incessant pressurefor her to not defy collective will and yellow ribboned lapels,as the soldiers inexplicably repel down from the arena rafters.Which, if it not so insane,they'll be grounds for screaming laughter.

Dear Ron MacLean, I wouldn't bother with these questionsif I didn't sense some spiritual connection.We may not be the same, but it's not like we're from different planets.We both love this game so much we can hardly f*cking stand it.Alberta-born, and Prairie-raised.It seems like there ain't a sheet of ice north of Fargo I ain't played.From Penhold to the Gatinaeu, every fond memory of childhoodthat I know is somehow connected to the culture of this game.I just can't let it go.

I guess it comes down to what kind of world you want to live in.And if diversity is disagreement, disagreement is treason.Well, you'll be surprised if we find ourselvesreaping a strange and bitter fruit that that sad old man beside youkeeps feeding to young minds as virtue.It takes a village to raise a child, but just a flag to raze the childrentill they're nothing more than ballasts for fulfillinga madman's dream of a paradise. Complexity reduced to black and white.How do I protect her from this cult of death?"

35,000 fans vs. 200 fans? No contest.
It's comical to listen to the fans in Phoenix talk about anyone trying to take 'their' team from them - Puleeeze! It would be like if Blogger shut down tomorrow and I was the first in line to cry, "Foul!"